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Pearl Harbor
On this day, the Japanese made a surprise atttack on the United States naval base in Hawaii. They sunk and destroyed several US battleships when they dropped the bombs on Pearl Harbor. The first bombs were dropped at 7:55 am. This event was what caused the US to declare war. -
Battle of Coral Sea
This battle was fought in the Coral Sea, between Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands and it only lasted until May 8 of that same year. This battle resulted in a Japanese tactical victory and an Allied strategic victory. This was naval and air forces from Australia and America fighting against the Imperial Japanese Navy. -
Battle of Midway
This battle was a major turning point in the war. It ended with another Allied victory. The Battle of Midway lasted until June 7, 1942. The Japanese suffered 2,500 casualties, while the US only lost 307 men. This battle proved the advantage of aircraft carriers over destroyers. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
This battle lasted until February 9, 1943. It was fought between the Japanese and Allied forces on the Southern Solomon Islands. It ended in an allied victory. The Battle of Guadalcanal was considered a turning point because it was one of the firt major offensive victories for the allies. -
Battle of the Bismark Sea
This battle was one of the shorter ones because it only lasted for two days. It took place in the South West Pacific Area. This battle was started when aircraft of the U.S. Fifth Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force attacked a Japanese convoy. The American forces sunk eight Japanese battleships. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
This was considered the largest naval maneuver in history, however, it only lasted for three days. In this battle, the Japanese lost their defense of the Philippines and their sea power. This battle eliminated the Japanese navy from the war, so they had to rely on their army and air force more. -
Iwo Jima
This battle lasted until March 26, 1945. The Americasn eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima, but it did not come without a price. The 26,000 American casualties made this battle one of the bloodiest of the war. The raising of the American flag during the battle is to this day one of the most famous wartime pictures. There is even a statue replicated after this photo that is a part of the Marine Corps memorial in Arlington, VA. -
Testing of the Atomic Bomb
The first atomic bomb was dropped in the dessert of New Mexico. After Presiden Truman learned of this major success and development of military technology. He then proceeded to tell Japan of the threat that was now posed. -
Hiroshima
The united States had warned Japan that they had weapons of mass destruction and that they weren't afraid to use them. The Japanese still did not surrender to the Allied forces. About 140,000 people died when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It was nicknamed "Little Boy." -
Nagasaki
This was the second atomic bomb dropped on Japan three days after Hiroshima. It was nicknamed "Fat Man." About 80,000 people died after the bombing of Nagasaki by the United States. This bombing would not have happened if the Japanese had just surrendered after the first bomb.
